植物花青素苷生物合成及调控的研究进展

花青素苷( anthocyanin)是植物新陈代谢过程中产生的类黄酮物质,决定被子植物花、果实、种皮、茎、叶和根等的颜色,具有重要的营养价值和药理作用.近年来关于花青素生物合成途径的研究已取得突破,综述了植物花青素苷基因研究现状和发展趋势,包括植物花青素生物合成途径、参与生物合成途径中相关的结构基因和调控基因及功能研究以及影响花青素苷生物合成的环境因素等的研究进展.     

天然产物的生物合成专刊序言

天然产物是创新药物、食品、香料和日化产品等的重要来源,和人民的健康生活息息相关。近年来,随着现代生物学技术和天然产物化学技术的发展和融合,天然产物生物合成研究得到了迅猛的发展。一批天然产物的生物合成途径被解析,许多天然产物生物合成相关的途径酶与后修饰酶被挖掘和功能表征。进一步,这些参与天然产物生物合成的途径酶编码基因被组装到不同的底盘细胞中,利用合成生物学技术构建细胞工厂,用于天然产物的生物合成。此外,包括基因组编辑等新技术在内的生物技术也被用于天然产物的生物合成。为了进一步促进天然产物生物合成研究的发展,《生物工程学报》特组织出版"天然产物的生物合成"专刊,重点阐述了在天然产物生物合成途径的解析,工具酶的挖掘和功能表征以及生物合成技术制备天然产物三方面所取得的研究进展,并展望未来的发展趋势,为天然产物生物合成的进一步发展提供借鉴和指导。     

紫杉醇生物合成的研究进展

本文对近年来研究紫杉醇的生物合成及生物合成途径中关键酶的进展进行了评述。目前紫杉醇的生物合成途径已经基本明了,其生物合成途径中环化酶的基因已经克隆成功。在分子及基因水平上大量生产紫杉醇的曙光已经出现。     

紫杉醇生物合成的研究进展

本文对近年来研究紫杉醇的生物合成及生物合成途径中关键酶的进展进行了评述。目前紫杉醇的生物合成途径已经基本明了,其生物合成途径中环化酶的基因已经克隆成功。在分子及基因水平上大量生产紫杉醇的曙光已经出现。     

麦角碱生物合成途径中酶学及相关基因研究进展

简要介绍了麦角碱(ergot alkaloids)的化学、药理学及生物合成方面的相关知识．综述了近年来麦角碱生物合成途径中酶学和相关基因方面的研究进展以及它对麦角碱生产的影响,探讨了麦角碱生物合成途径方面的研究方向和发展前景。     

紫杉醇的生物合成途径和参与催化的酶

通过了解紫杉醇生物合成途径和途径中的催化酶 ,特别是催化限速步骤的关键酶以及这些酶的编码基因 ,从而从分子水平对该途径实施人工操纵 ,将是发展先进的生物工艺大量生产紫杉醇的前提。文章介绍了紫杉醇生物合成途径和催化酶类的研究进展 ,并简略讨论了紫杉醇生物合成研究领域所面临的问题     

植物类胡萝卜素的生物合成及其调控

阐述植物类胡萝卜素的生物合成途径和影响植物类胡萝卜素生物合成的因素,重点介绍该途径中的主要酶及其基因研究的进展。     

植物类胡萝卜素的生物合成及其调控1

阐述植物类胡萝卜素的生物合成途径和影响植物类胡萝卜素生物合成的因素,重点介绍该途径中的主要酶及其基因研究的进展。     

青蒿素生物合成分子调控研究进展

青蒿素是目前世界上最有效的疟疾治疗药物。通过对青蒿素的生物合成途径,青蒿素生物合成途径的关键酶,青蒿素生物合成的分子调控的介绍,综述了青蒿素生物合成分子调控的最新研究进展。     

生长素合成途径的研究进展

生长素是一类含有一个不饱和芳香族环和一个乙酸侧链的内源激素, 参与植物生长发育的许多过程。植物和一些侵染植物的病原微生物都可以通过改变生长素的合成来调节植株的生长。吲哚-3-乙酸(IAA)是天然植物生长素的主要活性成分。近年来, 随着IAA生物合成过程中一些关键调控基因的克隆和功能分析, 人们对IAA的生物合成途径有了更加深入的认识。IAA的生物合成有依赖色氨酸和非依赖色氨酸两条途径。依据IAA合成的中间产物不同, 依赖色氨酸的生物合成过程通常又划分成4条支路: 吲哚乙醛肟途径、吲哚丙酮酸途径、色胺途径和吲哚乙酰胺途径。该文综述了近几年在IAA生物合成方面取得的新进展。     

黄花蒿培养细胞中青蒿素合成代谢的体外调节

黄花蒿培养细胞通过两步培养积累青蒿素．第１步在含有０．２～０．４ｍｇ／Ｌ６－苄基氨基嘌呤（６－ＢＡ）和３～４ｍｇ／Ｌ吲哚乙酸（ＩＡＡ）的Ｎ６培养基中进行细胞的增殖培养,第２步将培养好的细胞转入含０．２～０．４ｍｇ／Ｌ６－ＢＡ和０．２～０．４ｍｇ／ＬＩＡＡ的改良Ｎ６培养基中进行青蒿素的合成．青蒿素的合成量为１９０μｇ／ｇ干细胞左右．当在第２步培养中加入青蒿素合成前体青蒿酸,青蒿素合成量比仅靠激素诱导提高了３倍多．青蒿素的合成途径是植物固醇合成途径的分支途径,当在青蒿素合成过程即第２步培养中加入固醇生物合成抑制剂双氯苯咪唑和氯化氯胆碱处理,可使代谢向合成青蒿素的方向移动,青蒿素合成量明显提高．经２００ｍｇ／Ｌ氯化氯胆碱处理２ｄ,黄花蒿细胞合成青蒿素量为３７２μｇ／ｇ干细胞;经２０ｍｇ／Ｌ双氯苯咪唑处理４ｄ,黄花蒿细胞合成青蒿素量为１５４０μｇ／ｇ干细胞,比靠激素诱导提高了８倍多,与诱导脱分化细胞的黄花蒿叶中所含的青蒿素（３０００μｇ／ｇ干细胞）处于同一个数量级．以上结果表明：在通过植物激素调节可以合成青蒿素的黄花蒿培养细胞中,缺乏青蒿素合成前体是青蒿素合成量低的重要原因．因此,在青蒿素合成的过程中通过体外调节,     

Effect of wounding on gene expression involved in artemisinin biosynthesis and artemisinin production in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artemisia annua</Emphasis>

Abstract-Effects of mechanical wounding on gene expression involved in artemisinin biosynthesis and artemisinin production in Artemisia annua leaves were investigated. HPLC-ELSD analysis indicated that there was a remarkable enhancement of the artemisinin content in 2 h after wounding treatment, and the content reached the maximum value at 4 h (nearly 50% higher than that in the control plants). The expression profile analysis showed that many important genes (HMGR, ADS, CPR, and CYP71AV1) involved in the artemisinin biosynthetic pathway were induced in a short time after wounding treatment. This study indicates that the artemisinin biosynthesis is affected by mechanical wounding. The possible mechanism of the control of gene expression during wounding is discussed.     

青蒿素生产研究进展

青蒿素是我国利用传统中医自主开发的抗疟特效药.对青蒿人工栽培、离体培养生产青蒿素、青蒿素生物合成与调控等的最新研究进展作了综述,并认为青蒿规模化种植是满足青蒿素现实需求的主要途径,同时应努力运用现代生物技术开启另一条高质高产的青蒿素生产途径.     

Salicylic acid activates artemisinin biosynthesis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artemisia annua</Emphasis> L.

This paper provides evidence that salicylic acid (SA) can activate artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemisia annua L. Exogenous application of SA to A. annua leaves was followed by a burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the conversion of dihydroartemisinic acid into artemisinin. In the 24 h after application, SA application led to a gradual increase in the expression of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) gene and a temporary peak in the expression of the amorpha-4,11-diene synthase (ADS) gene. However, the expression of the farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FDS) gene and the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP71AV1) gene showed little change. At 96 h after SA (1.0 mM) treatment, the concentration of artemisinin, artemisinic acid and dihydroartemisinic acid were 54, 127 and 72% higher than that of the control, respectively. Taken together, these results suggest that SA induces artemisinin biosynthesis in at least two ways: by increasing the conversion of dihydroartemisinic acid into artemisinin caused by the burst of ROS, and by up-regulating the expression of genes involved in artemisinin biosynthesis.     

Computational identification of sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua) microRNA and their mRNA targets

Despite its efficacy against malaria, the relatively low yield (0.01%-0.8%) of artemisinin in Artemisia annua is a serious limitation to the commercialization of the drug. A better understanding of the biosynthetic pathway of artemisinin and its regulation by both exogenous and endogenous factors is essential to improve artemisinin yield. Increasing evidence has shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) play multiple roles in various biological processes. In this study, we used previously known miRNAs from Arabidopsis and rice against expressed sequence tag (EST) database of A. annua to search for potential miRNAs and their targets in A. annua. A total of six potential miRNAs were predicted, which belong to the miR414 and miR1310 families. Furthermore, eight potential target genes were identified in this species. Among them, seven genes encode proteins that play important roles in ar- temisinin biosynthesis, including HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR), amorpha-4,11-diene synthase (ADS), farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPS) and cytochrome P450. In addition, a gene coding for putative AINTEGUMENTA, which is involved in signal transduction and development, was also predicted as one of the targets. This is the first in silico study to indicate that miRNAs target genes encoding enzymes involved in artemisinin biosynthesis, which may help to understand the miRNA-mediated regulation of artemisinin biosynthesis in A. annua.     

Evidence of artemisinin production from IPP stemming from both the mevalonate and the nonmevalonate pathways

The potent antimalarial sesquiterpene lactone, artemisinin, is produced in low quantities by the plant Artemisia annua L. The source and regulation of the isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) used in the biosynthesis of artemisinin has not been completely characterized. Terpenoid biosynthesis occurs in plants via two IPP-generating pathways: the mevalonate pathway in the cytosol, and the non-mevalonate pathway in plastids. Using inhibitors specific to each pathway, it is possible to resolve which supplies the IPP precursor to the end product. Here, we show the effects of inhibition on the two pathways leading to IPP for artemisinin production in plants. We grew young (7–14 days post cotyledon) plants in liquid culture, and added mevinolin to the medium to inhibit the mevalonate pathway, or fosmidomycin to inhibit the non-mevalonate pathway. Artemisinin levels were measured after 7–14 days incubation, and production was significantly reduced by each inhibitor compared to controls, thus, it appears that IPP from both pathways is used in artemisinin production. Also when grown in miconazole, an inhibitor of sterol biosynthesis, there was a significant increase in artemisinin compared to controls suggesting that carbon was shifted from sterols into sesquiterpenes. Collectively these results indicate that artemisinin is probably biosynthesized from IPP pools from both the plastid and the cytosol, and that carbon from competing pathways can be channeled toward sesquiterpenes. This information will help advance our understanding of the regulation of in planta production of artemisinin.     

Differentially Expressed Genes during Contrasting Growth Stages of Artemisia annua for Artemisinin Content

Artemisia annua is the source of antimalarial phytomolecule, artemisinin. It is mainly produced and stored in the glandular secretory trichomes present in the leaves of the plant. Since, the artemisinin biosynthesis steps are yet to be worked out, in this investigation a microarray chip was strategized for the first time to shortlist the differentially expressing genes at a stage of plant producing highest artemisinin compared to the stage with no artemisinin. As the target of this study was to analyze differential gene expression associated with contrasting artemisinin content in planta and a genotype having zero/negligible artemisinin content was unavailable, it was decided to compare different stages of the same genotype with contrasting artemisinin content (seedling - negligible artemisinin, mature leaf - high artemisinin). The SCAR-marked artemisinin-rich (∼1.2%) Indian variety ‘CIM-Arogya’ was used in the present study to determine optimal plant stage and leaf ontogenic level for artemisinin content. A representative EST dataset from leaf trichome at the stage of maximal artemisinin biosynthesis was established. The high utility small scale custom microarray chip of A. annua containing all the significant artemisinin biosynthesis-related genes, the established EST dataset, gene sequences isolated in-house and strategically selected candidates from the A. annua Unigene database (NCBI) was employed to compare the gene expression profiles of two stages. The expression data was validated through semiquantitative and quantitative RT-PCR followed by putative annotations through bioinformatics-based approaches. Many candidates having probable role in artemisinin metabolism were identified and described with scope for further functional characterization.     

Localization of enzymes of artemisinin biosynthesis to the apical cells of glandular secretory trichomes of Artemisia annua L.

A method based on the laser microdissection pressure catapulting technique has been developed for isolation of whole intact cells. Using a modified tissue preparation method, one outer pair of apical cells and two pairs of sub-apical, chloroplast-containing cells, were isolated from glandular secretory trichomes of Artemisia annua. A. annua is the source of the widely used antimalarial drug artemisinin. The biosynthesis of artemisinin has been proposed to be located to the glandular trichomes. The first committed steps in the conversion of FPP to artemisinin are conducted by amorpha-4,11-diene synthase, amorpha-4,11-diene hydroxylase, a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP71AV1) and artemisinic aldehyde Δ11(13) reductase. The expression of the three biosynthetic enzymes in the different cell types has been studied. In addition, the expression of farnesyldiphosphate synthase producing the precursor of artemisinin has been investigated. Our experiments showed expression of farnesyldiphosphate synthase in apical and sub-apical cells as well as in mesophyl cells while the three enzymes involved in artemisinin biosynthesis were expressed only in the apical cells. Elongation factor 1α was used as control and it was expressed in all cell types. We conclude that artemisinin biosynthesis is taking place in the two outer apical cells while the two pairs of chloroplast-containing cells have other functions in the overall metabolism of glandular trichomes.